Becoming a Sommelier
In the UK we do not have any formal exams for Sommeliers to take provided by catering colleges. Unlike France, Italy or Spain where students will spend an extra year specialising in wines and wine service.
Although in the UK the Wine and Spirit Education Trust do a range of excellent courses that focus more on wine styles and regions and less on service or food considerations. They are the industry standard for anyone pursuing careers in the drinks industry.
More specialised for those wanting to become Sommeliers are the courses run by the Court of Master Sommeliers, these place more emphasis on service, storage, producers and food matching.
Both sets of courses are usually undertaken by people in employment who have decided they want to become Sommeliers, and there is no real process for pushing people into these career paths except for the work done by the Academy of Food and Wine Service who provide many free and interesting seminars throughout the country.
By far the most effective and quickest route to becoming a good Sommeliers is a combination of all these resources but most of all working in a nice establishment, a large wine list and with a good head sommelier who is willing to teach you.
Last week I did an interview with the Academy of Wine and Food Service about being a Sommelier. Check out the video below.
